A Holistic Approach to National Security

A Holistic Approach to National Security

We should ensure both development and security and be ever ready to protect against potential dangers in time of peace. This is a major principle underlying the CPC’s governance.

While presiding over the first meeting of the National Security Commission of the CPC Central Committee in April 2014, Xi Jinping emphasized the need to take a holistic view of national security. Through such an approach, a full spectrum of security issues are assessed, ranging from people’s security, which is the ultimate concern, political security, which is of overarching importance, and economic security, which underpins all other considerations, to military, cultural and social perspectives, which reinforce efforts in other areas, and the promotion of international security, which provides support for measures taken in a national context. Along this line of thinking we are setting out to build a national security system with Chinese characteristics.

Such a holistic approach requires a focus on both internal and external security. Internally, it is essential to promote development, continue reform, maintain stability, and create a safe environment. Externally, we should promote international peace, seek cooperation and mutual benefit, and strive to bring harmony to the world. Homeland security and the security of our citizens are both of paramount importance.  All initiatives taken in this respect will be people-centered, and implemented for the people, on the basis of the people’s needs, and with the support of the people. Security issues, both traditional and non-traditional, will be taken into account. The national security system we envisage will integrate not only political security and homeland security, but also security-related military, economic, cultural, and social concerns, science and technology, information, ecological, resource, and nuclear security.  

Development issues will be considered in tandem with security issues. Development provides a basis for security, whereas security constitutes a necessary condition for development. Our national security must also be viewed in the context of international security. For the sake of our global community with a shared future, we should all work toward our goal of satisfying the world’s security needs in a way that is beneficial to all. We will continue to improve our national security system, strengthen our national security capacity, and defend our sovereignty, security and national interest as it concerns our development needs.

总体国家安全观

统筹发展和安全，增强忧患意识，做到居安思危，是中国共产党治国理政的一个重大原则。2014年4月，习近平在主持召开中央国家安全委员会第一次会议时强调，坚持总体国家安全观，以人民安全为宗旨，以政治安全为根本,以经济安全为基础，以军事、文化、社会安全为保障，以促进国际安全为依托，走出一条中国特色国家安全道路。总体国家安全观要求：既重视外部安全，又重视内部安全，对内求发展、求变革、求稳定、建设平安中国，对外求和平、求合作、求共赢、建设和谐世界；既重视国土安全，又重视国民安全，坚持以民为本、以人为本，坚持国家安全一切为了人民、一切依靠人民，真正夯实国家安全的群众基础；既重视传统安全，又重视非传统安全，构建集政治安全、国土安全、军事安全、经济安全、文化安全、社会安全、科技安全、信息安全、生态安全、资源安全、核安全等于一体的国家安全体系；既重视发展问题，又重视安全问题，发展是安全的基础，安全是发展的条件；既重视自身安全，又重视共同安全，打造命运共同体，推动各方朝着互利互惠、共同安全的目标相向而行。必须完善国家安全制度体系，加强国家安全能力建设，坚决维护国家主权、安全、发展利益。